Sterling County, Texas Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sterling County is located in Texas with a total population of 1,389. It is the 240th most populous county out of 254 in Texas. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sterling County is 31.4 years. This is 12% lower than the state median of 35.5 years. With 36.0% of the population under 18, Sterling County has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Sterling County is $78,750. This is 3% higher than the state median of $76,292. It is also about the same as the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 2.7%. This is 80% lower than the state poverty rate of 13.8%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 2.3%. This is 55% lower than the state rate of 5.1%. The median home value is $143,200. Housing costs are 45% lower than the state median of $260,400. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.8x, Sterling County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 83.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 33% higher than the state average of 62.6%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Sterling County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 67.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 32.2%. The White (non-Hispanic) population is significantly higher than the state average (67.1% vs 39.9%). The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 11.9%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 5.3%.

Education

24.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 26% lower than the state rate of 33.1%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 87.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sterling County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Texas and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.